A'ight, so I have officially decided to make a commitment to update my stories. If the plot bunnies attack with a vicious oneshot idea, tempting me to write until my fingers hurt, I will make a post-it of it and save it until my prior commitments are filled. So, here is Chapter Two. (Also, reviews are good incentives for writing more chapters, so send 'em this way)
Lily strolled down the dew-covered hill with May in tow, glancing around as casually as she could for a boy with tousled black hair and glasses. Mary was in Potions II while May and Lily were in Herbology, but she insisted on knowing every detail at lunch. May was jabbering on and on and on about Ryan Shanen's kissing techniques.
"So, then, when we were alone after hours, like in the corridors, because honestly who's gonna care, right? But anyway, so we're just kinda walking along, and then he tells me my hair looks good, and if I cut it, and I was of course all like 'OMG', because seriously, what guy asks that??? What guy notices??? But then I was all 'thanks', and he just kind of reaches out and strokes my hair! Like in a romcom! And then he leans in and…" She paused, probably for a dramatic effect. Then she noticed that Lily was paying absolutely no attention to her scintillating story.
"Um, Lils? Do you want to hear the ending???" Lily looked over at her, eyes distracted.
"Sorry?" May rolled her eyes.
"Are you still stressing about James? Honestly, Lily, he probably just feels guilty for getting some with an ugly girl he didn't like. Happens all the time with guys. They seem all swaggery, but they're pretty sensitive inside." Lily nodded, still worried. "So, do you want to hear what happened next????????" Smiling tryingly, Lily nodded. But she didn't listen.
All throughout Herbology, Lily looked for an opening she could slip out of, a lapse in the teacher's attention. She wanted to get out and find James ASAP. Unfortunately, this opportunity didn't knock on her door until Herbology was almost over. The teacher decided to work on correcting papers while her students labeled plant pots. Lily crept over to the door and slid out as silently as she could.
She ducked past the windows of the greenhouse and sprinted into the forest. The trees weren't very thick here, but still, the darkness was crippling. And the silence. The silence was obliterating. A squirrel hopped in front of her, darting into a burrow and chittering at her for being on his turf. She smiled, and began to make her way down the thin path.
She realized that she had no idea where James would be waiting for her. This fact was a rude awakening; the forest was huge, and he could be anywhere. A bit deflated, she began calling out his name. After ten minutes of shouting his name, she heard a slight cough in front of her. Not caring if it were James or something much more vile, she ran forward, tired of running in circles.
She entered a clearing, and there indeed, sat James, a Charms book open in front of him. He looked up at her presence, nodding once.
"Studying a bit. You know, before charms." He smiled weakly, but there was something haunted lurking behind his eyes. Lily kneeled in front of him, minding her skirt didn't ride up inappropriately.
"James, what… happened to you?" His smile disappeared, and to her dismay, he broke down into tears. She gasped in concern.
"They… they took… my clothes. And… wouldn't let me move. Then…" He wiped his eyes angrily. "They did it to me. They… they raped me."
"James… who???" He shook his head.
"They said if I told anyone, they'd do it again. Only… only worse." She took his hand gently; this time he didn't flinch away.
"James, tell me. I can fix this. We can make it better." He glared at the ground, a conflicted look dancing in his expression.
"Some girls. Slytherin. I don't know their names. But they were seventh years. And… there were a lot of them. About ten. I can recognize them by sight." Lily nodded concernedly.
"James, it'll be ok. I'll tell a teacher and we can catch them. Don't worry; they'll get what's coming to them."
"What???" Lily leaned forward, her eyebrows shooting up, incredulous at what she was hearing. Professor Armando Dippet nodded, surprised at her level of shock.
"That's correct, Ms. Evans. If there is no proof or witnesses of the actual event, I do not have to power to convict anyone of any charges. If we had proof of the crime, we could punish the convicted."
Lily's jaw dropped in disbelief. She glanced over at James; his face was white with the news.
"Please, sir; you cannot deny that James has been through some sort of trauma; you must grant him at least a chance to point out the girls, so they are to be questioned!" Professor Dippet sighed deeply.
"Miss Evans, I wish not to repeat myself in the fact that nothing can be done. If we had a witness to the event and perhaps some names in relation to the predator, then I can question and punish."
Silently, James stood from the hard wooden stool in front of the headmaster's desk and slipped out of the door. Lily followed in a huff.
"James! Wait! We… we need to talk." He whirled on his heel, face hard and expressionless.
"What is there to discuss, Lil?" She stamped her foot a bit.
"Listen; we need to get back at those girls. They need to be caught. They can't be walking about this school with other potential victims at each corner." He hung his head in defeat.
"How?" Her eyes glinted.
"I have a plan."
Ok. Ch Two is done! Aren't you proud of me??? :DDDDDDDDDDD